Marans Thread - breed discussion & pictures are welcome!

[pinkchick]

sorry for the double post

 

[laughingclown]

Everyone forgive my last post. I have a really hard time sleeping at night so I sometimes take ambient. Usually I get my stuff done before I take it. This time I was on here killing time before I got drowsy and made the mistake of trying to post something. Whoops!

 

[laughingclown]

Man I need some more Black Copper Pullets! All I got out of my last hatch was blues and splashes. I have 2 Black Copper little roos that I probably can't use so Im trying to get rid of them. The one Black pullet I have refuses to grow a tail so Im wondering if I should cull her. I just don't know if I can. I had to put a baby chick out of its misery a few weeks ago and it has stuck with me. I think its healthy, I just don't think it will amount to anything. I believe in giving things a chance at life. What should I do? I will post a few pics of them and everyone can give me thoughts on her.

 

[BarnGoddess01]

Ever feel like you can stare at your chicks for weeks and weeks and still not be certain of their gender? LOL! Those stinkin' little Birchens now have me wondering if I am seeing things............like 4 pullets and 2 cockerels instead of the 2 pullets and 4 cockerels I thought they were all along. Makes me go hmmmmmmmm and also making me a bit crazy.Ok, ok....I admit the chicks had nothing to with making me crazy. *hee hee*

My Splash Copper Marans "pullet" turned into a cockerel at about 8 weeks! We were definitely on the fence with him - back and forth and back and forth until them. Marans are usually so easy to identify confidently early on .... <sigh>

 

[laughingclown]

A couple of 4 week olds.

Roo



Splash



BCM Pullet in question. Cull? All 8 other chicks have tail except this one and she is my only Black pullet

 

[snowbird]

I suppose people get tired of hearing this but will repeat it again. When people say the B-B-S can be bred together and mix the colors they are not talking about Black Copper, Blue Copper and Splash. If you want a bunch of culls this is the quickest route to take if you do not know how to breed these.

 

[Wynette]

If it's not a genetic thing, I would think that would be great for breeding purposes... I don't know much about this, as I'm pretty young in this.

15 - that silver penciled rock hen has a really nice underline; that's something we don't much talk about with Marans, I suspect it's because we're just "not there yet." Underline is one of the most difficult things to breed for. I have discussions with longtime breeders and a few judges about it fairly often.

Anywho.

Clown, I think it's far too early to make decisions on your 4-week olds. Do you have the space to hold off for another few months before deciding? Also - let's all remember that "culling" doe snot necessarily mean "dispatching." To cull is to remove from your breed program; you could put female culls into your layer pen, if you have one; sell them as layers on Craigslist or elsewhere; or sell them to someone who dispatches poultry for their own, personal use. I have a guy I call that I know is very experienced with dispatching...I know he does it in as humane a way as possible, and it makes me feel good that I can help him & his family out in that way. Win/win.

 

[heath_elisha]

Ever feel like you can stare at your chicks for weeks and weeks and still not be certain of their gender? LOL! Those stinkin' little Birchens now have me wondering if I am seeing things............like 4 pullets and 2 cockerels instead of the 2 pullets and 4 cockerels I thought they were all along. Makes me go hmmmmmmmm and also making me a bit crazy.Ok, ok....I admit the chicks had nothing to with making me crazy. *hee hee*

I feel the same way!! With my little ones anyways.... we do it to ourselves though lol

 

[heath_elisha]

Man I need some more Black Copper Pullets! All I got out of my last hatch was blues and splashes. I have 2 Black Copper little roos that I probably can't use so Im trying to get rid of them. The one Black pullet I have refuses to grow a tail so Im wondering if I should cull her. I just don't know if I can. I had to put a baby chick out of its misery a few weeks ago and it has stuck with me. I think its healthy, I just don't think it will amount to anything. I believe in giving things a chance at life. What should I do? I will post a few pics of them and everyone can give me thoughts on her.

Too bad you are too far way! I would trade my black ones for blues!!! LOL!

 

[heath_elisha]

A couple of 4 week olds.

Roo



Splash



BCM Pullet in question. Cull? All 8 other chicks have tail except this one and she is my only Black pullet

I have three the same age and this awkward stage is something lol Take your time if you can before making a choice on who gets to go.... maybe someone is plucking that tail?